History and Ecclesiastical Relations of the Churches of the Presbyterial Order at Amoy, China eBook

Let it be distinctly understood, that I do not publish
the above Reports with such remarks with any design
of throwing blame on the Board of Foreign Missions.
The members of it, and the Missionaries, have had
no feelings towards each other but such as are altogether
pleasant. Perhaps the Board, in view of all the
circumstances, has simply performed its duty.
I add this Appendix only to illustrate the unity of
the churches at Amoy, and show that the Missionaries
have acted according to the doctrines of God’s
Word and the fundamental principles of our Church
order.

Appendix B.

In the Christian Intelligencer of June 18,
1863, in the Report of the Proceedings of General
Synod of Thursday, June 11, the last day of the session,
appeared the following paragraphs:

“AMOY MISSION.

“Rev. Dr. Porter arose and said
that he was about to utter what to himself was
the gladdest and happiest word he had been permitted
to speak during the Synodical sessions, delightful
as they all had been. He was informed by
his beloved brother Talmage, that by permission
of Synod, he would like to express briefly his content,
in the main, with the action which the Synod had
taken respecting the Amoy Mission. It is
of the Lord. He has melted all hearts together
as one, for his own work and honor. We see eye
to eye, and Zion may lift up her voice in thanksgiving.

“Rev. J.V.N. Talmage said
he wished to express his gratitude to the fathers
and brethren for all their kindness to himself and
the Missionaries at Amoy. If the Synod has
not arrived at the very best decision, he hoped
it is the best under the circumstances. He felt
no desire to disobey the Synod, nor will the Missionaries
at Amoy. If we cannot organize a Classis
at once, we will do the best we can. He
had been defeated, and he had no qualms of conscience
in submitting to the decision that had been reached.”

I was willing to allow the previous, and, as I considered,
very partial, report of the proceedings of Synod to
pass unnoticed, but felt that I had no right to allow
errors, such as are contained in the above two paragraphs,
to remain uncorrected. Therefore I addressed to
the editor the following note:

“To the Christian
Intelligencer.

“Mr. Editor:

“In looking over the report of
General Synod, as given in the last number of
the Intelligencer, I find a very grave mistake
in reference to the position taken by me near
the close of the session. A similar mistake
appears in the report made to the New York
Observer.[3]

[Footnote 3: I
addressed to the editors of the Observer a card,
correcting the mistake
which had appeared in their paper, and they
published it.]